Governing Bodies: General FAQ 2

Does the public have the right to speak at a meeting of a governmental body?

No.
Although Wisconsin's open meetings law requires that the public be
allowed to attend an open meeting of a governmental body, the public
does not have the right to address a governmental body unless the
meeting is a public hearing specifically designed to give the public
input on a particular matter. However, it is not uncommon for governing
bodies to designate a public comment period on the agenda so they can
hear constituent concerns. Some governing bodies establish rules
governing public comment (e.g., time limit for each speaker), to
balance the need to listen to the public's concerns with the need to run
meetings in an efficient and orderly manner.